Leading Scientists Still Reject God

[Tab]

Leading scientists still reject God
Nature, Vol. 394, No. 6691, p. 313 (1998) © Macmillan Publishers Ltd.



Sir ? The question of religious belief among US scientists has been debated since early in the century. Our latest survey finds that, among the top natural scientists, disbelief is greater than ever ? almost total.

Research on this topic began with the eminent US psychologist James H. Leuba and his landmark survey of 1914. He found that 58% of 1,000 randomly selected US scientists expressed disbelief or doubt in the existence of God, and that this figure rose to near 70% among the 400 "greater" scientists within his sample [1]. Leuba repeated his survey in somewhat different form 20 years later, and found that these percentages had increased to 67 and 85, respectively [2].

In 1996, we repeated Leuba's 1914 survey and reported our results in Nature [3]. We found little change from 1914 for American scientists generally, with 60.7% expressing disbelief or doubt. This year, we closely imitated the second phase of Leuba's 1914 survey to gauge belief among "greater" scientists, and find the rate of belief lower than ever ? a mere 7% of respondents.

Leuba attributed the higher level of disbelief and doubt among "greater" scientists to their "superior knowledge, understanding, and experience" [3]. Similarly, Oxford University scientist Peter Atkins commented on our 1996 survey, "You clearly can be a scientist and have religious beliefs. But I don't think you can be a real scientist in the deepest sense of the word because they are such alien categories of knowledge." [4] Such comments led us to repeat the second phase of Leuba's study for an up-to-date comparison of the religious beliefs of "greater" and "lesser" scientists.

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Since school is over for the summer I've done some reading and "debating" with other indiviuals about religion. Needless to say, I am become much more athiest and less agnositic. Anyone have simaller views?

 

[Stunt]

Agnostic here

 

[Amplifier]

Scientists beat god.

 

[Infohawk]

Great information.

Frankly, I find it hard to trust people who are willing to bypass logic via faith in one area. Sure, they could be reasonable in every other area, but it casts a shadow on them.

Needless to say, I am become much more athiest and less agnositic.

Me too. To me, the best argument for agnosticism is that you can't disprove the existence of god (though people do a good job of disproving the specific religious gods). However, if you accept that a god might exist despite the lack of any evidence for it, you have to also give as much credence to claims that there are invisible elephants orbiting your head at this very moment. Agnosticism leads to an absurd worldview.

 

[Stunt]

Sex beats God.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
Great information.

Frankly, I find it hard to trust people who are willing to bypass logic via faith in one area. Sure, they could be reasonable in every other area, but it casts a shadow on them.

Needless to say, I am become much more athiest and less agnositic.

Me too. To me, the best argument for agnosticism is that you can't disprove the existence of god (though people do a good job of disproving the specific religious gods). However, if you accept that a god might exist despite the lack of any evidence for it, you have to also give as much credence to claims that there are invisible elephants orbiting your head at this very moment. Agnosticism leads to an absurd universe.

Well, you can't disprove anything in the first place. Agnosticism, doesn't lead to a absurd universe, it's just basically saying you're "undecided". I am not doing to deny the possibilty that there could be elephants orbiting my head, but elephants take up quite a bit of space and I could prove there there is something floating around my head.

I do agree, I find it hard to trust people will be logical and use scientific information in area but not apply it to their "faith".

 

[Kerouactivist]

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[Tab]

Originally posted by: bthorny
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Read this

I am thinking about picking up some books on the subject and possibly a "athiests" annotated bible. I am abit skeptical on some of the claims, generally people who are open about their beliefs tend to translate things a bit too far. I want the facts not a biased picture of the bible or anything such as that.

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
Agnosticism leads to an absurd universe.

How do you figure this?...I live my life almost the same as every other Atheist, except I feel there is greater meaning to our existence. No religious group has shown me they are deserving in showing me the way to a successful life.

I also am very appreciative of life, and see many instances in everyday life where scientific theorys do not apply. These make me question the existent of a greater force beyond our comprehension.

While you most likely will as me for the evidence God does exist, I challenge you FIRST for evidence God doesn't. I know how your twisted arguments work.

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: Stunt
Sex beats God.

I'll bet you a dollar Sex beats Scientists, too.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Tab
Well, you can't disprove anything in the first place.

You can't? The dictionary says it means to invalidate. You can't invalidate 2+1=4?

Agnosticism, doesn't lead to a absurd universe, it's just basically saying you're "undecided". I am not doing to deny the possibilty that there could be elephants orbiting my head, but elephants take up quite a bit of space and I could prove there there is something floating around my head.

I probably shouldn't have said agnosticism leads to an absurd universe. It does lead to an absurd mindframe, depending on how you define absurd. To me, elephants orbiting anyone's head is absurd (of, relating to, or manifesting the view that there is no order or value in human life or in the universe.)

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Infohawk
Agnosticism leads to an absurd universe.

How do you figure this?...I live my life almost the same as every other Atheist, except I feel there is greater meaning to our existence. No religious group has shown me they are deserving in showing me the way to a successful life.

I also am very appreciative of life, and see many instances in everyday life where scientific theorys do not apply. These make me question the existent of a greater force beyond our comprehension.

While you most likely will as me for the evidence God does exist, I challenge you FIRST for evidence God doesn't. I know how your twisted arguments work.

I don't know you very well but I would say I am just as appreciative of life as most people are, bit more appreciative than those in our current goverment positions...

Sorry, the burden of prove hangs on you to prove evidence to your claim. You can't prove a negative. Prove to me that god isn't a flaming pink homosexual flamingo.

 

[Amplifier]

That made me laugh irl tab

 

[Kerouactivist]

Originally posted by: Tab

Originally posted by: bthorny
buy this

Read this

I am thinking about picking up some books on the subject and possibly a "athiests" annotated bible. I am abit skeptical on some of the claims, generally people who are open about their beliefs tend to translate things a bit too far. I want the facts not a biased picture of the bible or anything such as that.

I don't quite understand what your saying

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: Tab
Well, you can't disprove anything in the first place.

You can't? The dictionary says it means to invalidate. You can't invalidate 2+1=4?

Agnosticism, doesn't lead to a absurd universe, it's just basically saying you're "undecided". I am not doing to deny the possibilty that there could be elephants orbiting my head, but elephants take up quite a bit of space and I could prove there there is something floating around my head.

I probably shouldn't have said agnosticism leads to an absurd universe. It does lead to an absurd mindframe, depending on how you define absurd. To me, elephants orbiting anyone's head is absurd (of, relating to, or manifesting the view that there is no order or value in human life or in the universe.)

Yes, reality is comletely subjective.

We aren't discussing proofs either.... It's not in that realm... I can't really explain it...

Someone help me out here!

 

[Infohawk]

Speaking of absurdity and god:

http://www.thebricktestament.com/

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: bthorny

Originally posted by: Tab

Originally posted by: bthorny
buy this

Read this

I am thinking about picking up some books on the subject and possibly a "athiests" annotated bible. I am abit skeptical on some of the claims, generally people who are open about their beliefs tend to translate things a bit too far. I want the facts not a biased picture of the bible or anything such as that.

I don't quite understand what your saying

I am thinking about picking up some books of the critism of the bible and maybe a more in-depth look at atheism. I used to go to church a little and I did read the bible. Some of the translation that some athiest indiviual have made are a bit too much. I want the facts, not a biased look a the bible.

There just as many christian fundamentalists as their are athiests wackos...

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Amplifier
That made me laugh irl tab

I try

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
Speaking of absurdity and god:

http://www.thebricktestament.com/

That's hilarous!

I'll give them a A+ for effort

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: Tab

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Infohawk
Agnosticism leads to an absurd universe.

How do you figure this?...I live my life almost the same as every other Atheist, except I feel there is greater meaning to our existence. No religious group has shown me they are deserving in showing me the way to a successful life.

I also am very appreciative of life, and see many instances in everyday life where scientific theorys do not apply. These make me question the existent of a greater force beyond our comprehension.

While you most likely will as me for the evidence God does exist, I challenge you FIRST for evidence God doesn't. I know how your twisted arguments work.

I don't know you very well but I would say I am just as appreciative of life as most people are, bit more appreciative than those in our current goverment positions...

Sorry, the burden of prove hangs on you to prove evidence to your claim. You can't prove a negative. Prove to me that god isn't a flaming pink homosexual flamingo.

Like I said, I do not conform to any formal religious institution. I just believe in a God/Spirit/Unaccounted Energy, however you want to describe his presence.

Therefore I am supportive of all his creations, that includes gays and all those who are 'good', by 'good' I mean creates harm to others in some way or form. Homosexuality in my eyes is not a sinful act, neither is pre-marital sex as long as it is consentual, all parties are aware of the consequences and it is done in a loving and caring manner. I don't see how a compassionate higher being can look down on that.

I have no problems discussing my views, I've been searching, as many of us have. There's a lot of I don't knows, but that's part of the journey right?

Edit. For the record, I come from an Atheist family, Grandparents are Presbyterian; but do not take the bible literally.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Tab

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Infohawk
Agnosticism leads to an absurd universe.

How do you figure this?...I live my life almost the same as every other Atheist, except I feel there is greater meaning to our existence. No religious group has shown me they are deserving in showing me the way to a successful life.

I also am very appreciative of life, and see many instances in everyday life where scientific theorys do not apply. These make me question the existent of a greater force beyond our comprehension.

While you most likely will as me for the evidence God does exist, I challenge you FIRST for evidence God doesn't. I know how your twisted arguments work.

I don't know you very well but I would say I am just as appreciative of life as most people are, bit more appreciative than those in our current goverment positions...

Sorry, the burden of prove hangs on you to prove evidence to your claim. You can't prove a negative. Prove to me that god isn't a flaming pink homosexual flamingo.

Like I said, I do not conform to any formal religious institution. I just believe in a God/Spirit/Unaccounted Energy, however you want to describe the presence.

Therefore I am supportive of all his creations, that includes gays and all those who are 'good', by 'good' I mean creates harm to others in some way or form. Homosexuality in my eyes is not a sinful act, neither is pre-marital sex as long as it is consentual, all parties are aware of the consequences and it is done in a loving and caring manner. I don't see how a compassionate higher being can look down on that.

I have no problems discussing my views, I've been searching, as many of us have. There's a lot of I don't knows, but that's part of the journey right?

Thats not really a religion at all... It's just some form of personal beilef....

I'd say your a closest "athiest"

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Stunt
and see many instances in everyday life where scientific theorys do not apply.

Like what?

While you most likely will as me for the evidence God does exist, I challenge you FIRST for evidence God doesn't. I know how your twisted arguments work.

See tab's comment on this.

Edit: If you think my logic is twisted, show why on a case-by-case basis.

 

[Amplifier]

Arguing about god is a good way to work up your debate skills, but let's get serious, this debate has been going on for centuries now

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: Tab
Thats not really a religion at all... It's just some form of personal beilef....

I'd say your a closest "athiest"

Welcome to the world of Agnostics! Religion all has to start somewhere, and if I make my own beliefs so what. I think there are a few critical things that set my views apart from Athiest views.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: Amplifier
Arguing about god is a good way to work up your debate skills, but let's get serious, this debate has been going on for centuries now

I tried that, I am asshole. I don't care for people who can't carry on a debate and I am not that fast thinking in the first place. I need to sit down and think things through.

I just read about stuff on the subject to become more firm and find out what I beileve in.